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Biological Purification of Heterogenous Car Wash Effluents: Selection of Tolerant Bacteria and Development of Microbial Consortia for Pollutant Biodegradation

Author

Listed:
  • Katarzyna Starzec

    (Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland)

  • Paulina Supel

    (Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland)

  • Paweł Kaszycki

    (Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland)

Abstract

Car wash wastewaters (CWW) bring growing environmental challenges due to the increasing number of vehicles worldwide and they require novel, optimized and sustainable treatment methods. They are highly heterogenous, typically containing complex mixtures of detergents, waxes, oils, petroleum derivatives, corrosion inhibitors and salts, with the composition depending on installation age, geographic location, season, and weather. This study aimed to select bacteria resistant to variable and potentially toxic CWW, capable of biodegrading organic pollutants. A total of 81 strains isolated from various environmental sites were screened for tolerance to CWW environments by performing growth inhibition tests in 20 real wastewater samples with chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranging from 122 to 2267 mg O 2 /dm 3 . Seventeen strain candidates were chosen, identified with molecular proteomics, and further evaluated for biodegradation potential. Based on the most robust isolates, six microbial consortia were developed and examined. Biodegradation experiments were conducted at ambient temperature without active pH control and nutrient supplementation to reflect real conditions occurring in wastewater treatment practice. The best-performing consortium reduced COD by 86% within 7 days. These findings should help improve the treatment of complex CWW by highlighting the potential of thoroughly selected bacteria as effective tools for bioremediation of extremely harsh environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Katarzyna Starzec & Paulina Supel & Paweł Kaszycki, 2025. "Biological Purification of Heterogenous Car Wash Effluents: Selection of Tolerant Bacteria and Development of Microbial Consortia for Pollutant Biodegradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8414-:d:1753415
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Derrick Dadebo & Mona G. Ibrahim & Manabu Fujii & Mahmoud Nasr, 2022. "Transition towards Sustainable Carwash Wastewater Management: Trends and Enabling Technologies at Global Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Dianxi Zhang & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Naveed Ahmad & António José Filipe & Phung Anh Thu & Malik Zia-Ud-Din & António Bento Caleiro, 2020. "Water Scarcity and Sustainability in an Emerging Economy: A Management Perspective for Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Antonina Torrens & Paola Sepúlveda-Ruiz & Montserrat Aulinas & Montserrat Folch, 2025. "Innovative Carwash Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Through Nature-Based Solutions," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-21, February.
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